Construction students visit Ulster Hospitals new multi-million-pound development

SERC Construction students have had the opportunity to visit the site of the Ulster Hospitals new £95 million Acute Services Block – currently the largest live healthcare project in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The visit was organised through Attracta Mathews, Community Engagement Advisor for Graham BAM.   

Students where shown round the eight-story, 31,000 sq. meter site by Health and safety Officers John Wilson and Antoinette Hillen

Peter Reavey, Director at GRAHAM-BAM Healthcare Partnership said: “This is a state-of-the-art building designed to provide specialist care at the highest level, from operating and post-operative care facilities to high tech containment laboratories. We will be drawing on our strong track-record of delivering world-class medical facilities which is expected to complete in summer 2019.”

The facility will incorporate specialist wards, support services, assessment unit, inpatient imaging department, and a new emergency department which will have capacity for 110,000 attendances per year.

Ten enthusiastic students visited the site. To assist with their studies students got an insight into aspects of facility management including site maintenance and care, fit for purpose sustainable construction techniques for energy, materials and waste.

Simon Cummings, SERC deputy head of school for construction and engineering services said, “This was a great opportunity for the students to see first-hand how a major project is being carried out. For students to get the opportunity to ask engineers directly about their career paths helps them to see the exciting career opportunities that are available in the construction industry. We are extremely grateful to the GRAHAM-BAM Healthcare Partnership for arranging and facilitating the event.”